Best Gaming Laptops for 2022
You no longer have to buy a weighty desktop PC to play your favorite games. Recent gaming laptops can now offer you everything you need and more, with excellent resolution and fast gameplay. The best gaming laptop for you will depend on what you want to focus on – performance, specifications, portability, or cost.
The list below is of all the top gaming laptops available now.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Best Gaming Laptop: Alienware X17 Gaming Laptop
- Best Budget Gaming Laptop: Dell G5 15 SE (2020)
- Most Powerful Laptop for Gaming: ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS-HC021R
- Best Mid-Range Gaming Laptop: Lenovo Legion 5i
- Most Stylish Laptop for Gaming: GE76 Raider 11UH-053
- Best Value for Money Gaming Laptop: HP Gaming Pavilion 15-dk0046nr
- Best 17 Inch Gaming Laptop: ROG Zephyrus S17 GX703
- Gaming Laptop with Best Battery Life: MSI GS66 Stealth
- Best Thin Gaming Laptop: Razer Blade 15 Advanced
- Best Customizable Laptop: Origin PC Evo17-S
- How to Choose the Best Gaming Laptop for You
Best Gaming Laptop: Alienware X17 Gaming Laptop
Specifications
| Processor | 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i9 11980HK |
| Graphics | NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3080 16GB GDDR6 |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Storage | 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive |
| Display | 17.3-inch display |
| Weight | 6.65 pounds |
Pros
· Good amount of RAM
· Eight core processing
· Rapid refresh rate
Cons
· Relatively low storage capacity
· Heavy
Alienware laptops have been a popular choice for gamers for many years due to their fast processing speeds and high-tech graphics cards. This model is no different – built for endless hours of gaming, it features graphics power up to 165W.
With a refresh rate of 165Hz or more, this computer ensures seamless gameplay without interruptions. The NVIDIA® G-SYNC® technology works with the 360Hz panel option to support the best possible refresh rate.
Easily play even complex games on this laptop thanks to its responsive keyboard. Anti-ghosting technology, RGB LED lighting, and 1.5mm travel make this one of the best Alienware laptop keyboards yet.
Best Budget Gaming Laptop: Dell G5 15 SE (2020)
Specifications
| Processor | 10th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-10300H |
| Graphics | NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1660 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD |
| Display | 15.6-inch display |
| Weight | 5.18 pounds |
Pros
· Good value for money
· 144Hz display
· Range of ports
· Light
Cons
· Bulky design
· Limited storage
This cheap laptop is a viable option for those who want to be able to game on their device but don’t have a lot to spend. You’ll be able to install and play your games, but the speed won’t be as quick as some of the other models on this list.
If you were hoping for a bit more style, you could add on accessories such as a multicolored light-up keyboard and mouse to attach for easier gaming. This laptop is extremely portable due to its size and light weight. Take it with you to work or game on the go.
Overall, this model is an affordable choice that will work well for those who don’t often game, especially if paired with an external hard drive.
Most Powerful Laptop for Gaming: ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 GX550LXS-HC021R
Specifications
| Processor | Intel® Core™ i9-10980HK Processor 2.4 GHz |
| Graphics | NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2080 SUPER™ with Max-Q Design |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Storage | 1TB + 1TB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 3.0 Performance RAID0 SSD |
| Display | 15.6-inch display |
| Weight | 5.47 pounds |
Pros
· Powerful GPU
· Eight core processors
· Superior Storage
Cons
· Smaller display
· Expensive
This unique laptop offers an enhanced gaming experience across two screens. It is a powerful machine, being one of the few to use an NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2080 SUPER™ with Max-Q Design. The secondary screen, located above the keyboard, is tilted at 13° for comfortable viewing.
The ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 is exceptionally light for a machine this powerful. It’s highly portable, so you can game, create, or work from anywhere. The intuitive design makes it easy to buy and start using right away.
As this laptop has plenty of RAM and storage capacity, you can enjoy fast load times, even for power-hungry games.
Best Mid-Range Gaming Laptop: Lenovo Legion 5i
Specifications
| Processor | 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H 2.60GHz Hexa-Core Processor |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Display | 17.3-inch display |
| Weight | 6.39 pounds |
Pros
· Anti-glare display
· Plenty of connection ports
· Built-in HD webcam
Cons
· Heavy
· Low RAM
Lenovo has become well-known for solid, reliable laptops. The Lenovo Legion 5i is a great choice for gamers because of its hexa-core processors, ensuring fast gameplay.
Enjoy enhanced graphics with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 built with breakthrough graphics technology. Use the touchscreen for more intuitive interaction during gameplay.
LED display technology provides sharp images and bright colors so you can see every detail of your game.
Most Stylish Laptop for Gaming: GE76 Raider 11UH-053
Specifications
| Processor | 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H 2.60GHz Hexa-Core Processor |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Display | 17.3-inch display |
| Weight | 6.39 pounds |
Pros
· Stylish look and feel
· High amount of RAM
· I9 processors
· 1TB storage
Cons
· Heavier than other models
If style is your main priority, this is the laptop for you. The Raider is known for its sleek design with a light-up keyboard and edges that glow. This aurora lighting sequence is easily adjustable, with a range of 16.8 million color options.
It offers the option of switching between graphics technology to improve efficiency when gaming. The GPU core clock is adjustable to further enhance the graphic power.
Many gamers consider this the best MSI gaming laptop due to its rapid speeds and high refresh rate, ideal for those who don’t want their games to lag.
Best Value for Money Gaming Laptop: HP Gaming Pavilion 15-dk0046nr
Specifications
| Processor | Intel Core i5-9300H |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Display | 15.6-inch display |
| Weight | 5 pounds |
Pros
· Doesn’t overheat
· Great gaming performance
· Long-lasting battery for the price
Cons
· Display could be more vibrant
The HP Gaming Pavilion laptop is an excellent choice if you have a small budget. It has a superior battery life, lasting up to 8 hours and 45 minutes for mixed use. This makes it a better choice for those who want a long-lasting battery.
The unique look of this laptop is the reason that many gamers buy it. It stands out thanks to the polygonal shape and black and green color scheme.
The speakers provide a clear, crisp sound, making this the ideal choice if you love to have your game’s volume turned up high.
Best 17 Inch Gaming Laptop: ROG Zephyrus S17 GX703
Specifications
| Processor | 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i9 |
| Graphics | NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3080 |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 2TB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 4.0 SSD |
| Display | 17.3-inch display |
| Weight | 5.73 pounds |
Pros
· High Refresh Rate
· 8 Core Processing
· Lightweight
Cons
· Low RAM
· Expensive
The ROG Zephyrus S17 GX703 is well-known as the best ASUS gaming laptop due to its 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i9. Run on Windows 10 Pro, this device cools its processing unit with liquid metal to prevent overheating.
It features an optical mechanical keyboard, angled for added comfort. The six speakers ensure that you can hear sounds clearly, bringing your games to life. At just 5.73 pounds, the ROG Zephyrus S17 GX703 is light for such a powerful laptop.
With a refresh rate of 165 Hz, this laptop offers gameplay that will load smoothly every time. It outdoes the speed of many of its competitors thanks to its 8-core processing feature.
Gaming Laptop with Best Battery Life: MSI GS66 Stealth
Specifications
| Processor | 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i9 processor |
| Graphics | GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER™ with Max-Q Design |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Storage | 1TB NVMe SSD |
| Display | 15.6-inch display |
| Weight | 4.63 pounds |
Pros
· Portable size and weight
· Excellent RAM
Cons
· Very pricey
The MSI GS66 Stealth stands out as the best laptop for gaming and school because its powerful CPU can easily handle switching between multiple apps, browsers, and games.
It has an impressive battery life, lasting over 6 hours. This allows you to study and take notes for hours without the need to charge it. The 99.9Whr battery is the largest you’re allowed to take on a flight, making this the ideal choice for frequent travelers.
This laptop features cooling technology to dissipate heat, allowing you to game or work for longer without risk of the device overheating.
Best Thin Gaming Laptop: Razer Blade 15 Advanced
Specifications
| Processor | 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10875H |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe NVMe |
| Display | 15-inch display |
| Weight | 4.5 pounds |
Pros
· Plenty of Storage
· High amount of RAM
· Lightweight
Cons
· Smaller display
The Razer Blade 15 Advanced made it onto this list because it is the best lightweight gaming laptop around at the moment. With a 1TB storage capacity, you can download and store plenty of games on this machine. The 32GB RAM ensures that you can open these quickly without any delay.
This laptop uses innovative cooling technology to prevent it from overheating. This allows you to use it consistently at its maximum performance capacity.
With this laptop, you get all the benefits of a powerful gaming PC in a slimline, portable design.
Best Customizable Laptop: Origin PC Evo17-S
Specifications
| Processor | Intel Core i7 10870H 8-cores |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 16GB GDDR6 Max-Q |
| RAM | 32GB |
| Storage | 4TB |
| Display | 17.3-inch display |
| Weight | 5.07 pounds |
Pros
· Highly customizable
· Plenty of storage options
· Light computer
Cons
· Customizations can be expensive
· Not suitable for those with little knowledge of their laptop needs
The Origin PC Evo17-S comes with many customization options so that you can build your ideal laptop. To start with, you can choose what the exterior of the machine looks like, with plenty of colorful options available.
There are more than a dozen options for the operating system drive, allowing you to choose one that suits your gaming needs. You also have a lot of choice when it comes to selecting the storage drive, with options ranging from 240GB to 2TB. You can choose up to two of these, for a max capacity of 4TB.
The standard model comes with integrated high-definition audio for the ultimate gaming experience. This device remains light and portable while offering you extreme power.
How to Choose the Best Gaming Laptop for You
Choosing your ideal gaming laptop depends entirely on what’s important to you. Is price the primary consideration, or would you rather pay a premium for the best graphics?
Price
Gaming laptops can set you back around $900 – $3,500+. There is a gaming laptop to fit within every budget; you just need to decide if its features will be enough for you or if it’s worth going up a price bracket to access enhanced graphics or better resolution.
GPU / Graphics Card
A laptop with an excellent GPU is necessary for your games to load quickly and avoid lag when playing. Pay attention to the amount of VRAM (video random access memory), as this helps your laptop to run high-performance games effectively. If you have a multiple monitor set up, more VRAM will also help your game run smoothly on these.
CPU
The CPU (central processing unit) affects how your laptop behaves when you have multiple browsers, applications, or software open. For the fastest possible speed, many gamers go for an Intel Core i7. However, a Core i5 would also be suitable for the needs of casual gamers. Anything smaller, however, will not be fast enough and may result in waiting long periods for the game to open. Among the CPU specifications, you will notice clock speed – just note that the higher that speed is, the better the performance.
Screen Resolution
To see vivid imagery without lag while gaming, choosing the right screen resolution is crucial. Most laptop or PC screens refresh at a rate of 60 frames per second (for context, movies are usually 24fps). For a gaming laptop, you should be selecting one with a speed of 120Hz or more to ensure smooth gameplay.
HDD vs SDD
On the list of details about each laptop, you will notice that it states that it has an HDD or SDD. HDD stands for Hard State Drive. This type may have a slower loading time than the speedier SSDs or Solid State Drives. If you can afford it, choose an SSD, as they are faster, quieter, and lighter than HDDs.
Screen Size
Screen size is pretty self-explanatory. You will likely already know what size you are looking for, but keep in mind that while a smaller size will be more portable, you will have less room to see the detail of your games. Most gamers will opt for a larger screen size of 15 inches or more.
About the Author Marcus
Marcus has a graduate degree in computer engineering and has many years of experience in cutting-edge technology research and development in both startups and Fortune 500 corporations. In his free time, he enjoys RTS gaming.
